Orange Chicken Day

Quick Facts

Learn about Orange Chicken Day

I’m a fast foodie – like, a foodie, but with food courts. I’d love to go with all my friends to a food court that’s also a buffet – with unlimited orange chicken from Panda Express… I’m a simple man with simple pleasures.“

Tyler Oakley

Orange chicken is one of our favorite indulgences, a delicious blend of chicken, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil drenched in a delicious orange sauce. We know that it is almost the perfect Asian food, and that’s why we weren’t at all surprised to find it had a holiday of its very own, Orange Chicken Day!

History Of Orange Chicken Day

Orange chicken is a common sight at many North American Chinese restaurants and is a common favorite of patrons. Starting with a foundation of chicken that’s been battered and fried before being tossed in an orange-flavored chili sauce it’s then fried, letting the sauce thicken to a glaze. It was an immensely popular dish in China during the Hunan era and continued to be popular straight into the modern day. There was one period in the past, however, when the orange chicken wasn’t actually made from chicken.

During the 1600’s there was a plague that crossed through northern China and killed off large portions of the chicken population. Out of desperation (and a love of orange chicken), the people there had to find new meats to use in their orange chicken dish. Beef was the most common, but just about any form of meat could be used to make this coveted dish. Of course, the people in southern China had no trouble at all, as their chickens were unaffected.

How to celebrate Orange Chicken Day

The best way to celebrate Orange Chicken Day is to head out into the world, find your favorite Chinese restaurant, and order up a big dish of orange chicken. They tend to serve large portions, however, so why not bring a few friends with you to help demolish the dish? If you’re feeling truly adventurous you can try to make your own dish of orange chicken. There are a few places you can find a recipe, and if you’re fortunate a relative who’s been making it for years will be your best source. Don’t forget to get a heaping side of rice to go with it, and spring rolls have always gone well with it! Indulge yourself, there’s little in the world as wonderful as this dish!

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